Earthworms, Mealworms, Black Soldier Fly Larvae, Crickets...

[Mehjr10]

I used this 30 gallon Drum for my Bio pod for BSF and put a piece of 2 in pcv in for the ramp for them to crawl out when ready, i feed mine scraps that do not go to the chickens, including some scrap meats, fish, leftovers from chicken processing and even a dead chicken. No problems they will consume it all quickly. When they get to going good i will have a couple of hundred crawl into the catch bucket every day.. They come running when i have the bucket in hand. The Hanging piece is just a roll of cardboard so that the BSF females can lay eggs. You can see the young larvae on the surface and on the barrel side. This winter i covered them with scoop of manure to keep them warm, i also will throw scoops in during the summer if my scraps are scarce.

 

[geedub]

I built a composter out of a plastic 55 gallon barrel a few years ago and I had no idea what kind of larvae it was that infested the composter. I only put in vegetable & fruit scraps, peanut hulls, coffee grounds and grass clippings. It was not long before it was literally "moving" with larvae. Now I know. This will be great for my soon-to-be chicken flock.

I don't think BSF would be interested in grass but the other ingredients are great for attracting them. BSF larvae sure do like coffee grounds and I wish I understood why.

Edit: I just saw the fly in the third photo and I'm fairly sure it isn't a black soldier fly. If you can get a better photo I can confirm it either way.

 

[Mehjr10]

It may not be it was one of the first one that I saw when I first started the bin up last year, the BSF flys were darker and a bit larger. Did not know if it was just a new one or a fresh adult.

 

[geedub]

It may not be it was one of the first one that I saw when I first started the bin up last year, the BSF flys were darker and a bit larger. Did not know if it was just a new one or a fresh adult.

It's a different species, but the larvae shown migrating up the ramp look just like BSF. I think I've also seen the same fly in your third photo. It may be another species of soldier fly.

 

[Angelight]

Totally getting a pile going now. This combined with a list of things that most people don't know you can compost have me ready to get mine going. : )

 

[4CHICKSforMays]

They also are carriers for roundworm and cocci. But then again, so is nearly every other ground-dwelling insect. I don't worry about it too much but keep a close eye on them.

Do Mealworms carry any parasites?

 

[4CHICKSforMays]

Earthworms are host for Parasitic worms.

1. Capillary
2. Gapeworm
3.Tapeworm


One good reason to worm your birds, as we know they will eat a few earthworms, But no reason to help them get parasites.

Do Mealworms carry any parasites?

 

[Grace11]

Earthworms also carry Cecal worms.

 

[geedub]

Phoenix Worms is a brand name for black soldier fly larvae. They're raised on a special diet and sold mostly to exotic pet owners, but they're the same species. Here's a quote from the Phoenix Worm website with nutritional info about BSFL:



Quote:
There have also been studies which indicate that BSFL reduce e. coli and salmonella in the waste that they process.

Phoenix Worms is owned by Dr. Craig Sheppard, one of the pioneers of BSF technology, and I trust what he publishes to be factual.

 

[fowlsessed]

I'll say I don't know why BSFL aren't more popular! They are certainly easier (for me) than worms, crickets and mealworms. Free too, and so easy. Nutritious, safe and prolific, self propagating, harvesting etc. I had a DIY bin last year, and got some good production but didn't get the crawl off ramp 'down pat', this year I'm going to try again.